Beyond the Horizon

Don't you remember standing at the seashore wondering what was beyond that horizon? Canon G1X, 1/100 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200.

Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera is a genus of ornamental plants from the sunflower family. It is the fifth most used cut flower in the world after rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, and tulip. Canon 7D, 1/80 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro.

Deco Mechcanical

Up close to some of the art deco mechanical details of the bellows arms from a Kodak Jiffy Six-16 Series 1 camera vintage 1933-37. Canon 7D, 1/40 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 800, 100mm macro coverted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro 2 and Lightroom 4.

First Lighthouse

My grandson Robert climbed his first lighthouse this afternoon. He easily made the 191 steps to top of Old Cape Henry Light in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was appropriate that his first lighthouse was Old Cape Henry, the first federally funded public works construction project of the United States of America which was completed in 1792. In this picture he anxiously awaits Grandpa to finish taking picture so we can climb to the top. Canon G1X, 1/80 sec @ f/16.0, ISO 200.

Happy Birthday George Eastman

- Today is the 158th anniversary of the birth of photographic pioneer George Eastman. Eastman was the inventor of roll film and founded the Eastman Kodak company. He brought photography to the masses with affordable, easy to use cameras including these classics Kodaks in my collection. From left to right - the Jiffy Six-16 Series 1 (1933-37), the Brownie Target Six-16 and the Brownie Target Six-20 (1946-1952). In addition to photography Eastman was major philanthropist, establishing the Eastman School of Music, and schools of dentistry and medicine at the University of Rochester; contributing to the construction of MIT's second campus on the Charles River; and donating to Tuskegee and Hampton universities. The last two years of his life he was in intense pain, caused by a degenerative disorder affecting his spine. On March 14, 1932, Eastman died by suicide leaving a note which read, "To my friends: my work is done. Why wait?" Canon G1X, 1/50 sec @ f/3.2, ISO 200.

Sugar, Sugar

Oh honey honey, sugar sugar..............
You are my candy girl

Sugar Sugar was a 4 week number 1 hit from 1969 by fictional characters The Archies. The song was originally released on the album Everything's Archie. It was the product of a group of studio musicians managed by Don Kirshner. Ron Dante's lead vocals were accompanied by those of Toni Wine, and Andy Kim. Together they provided the voices of the Archies using multi-tracking. You're welcome for sticking this song in your head for the rest of the day. iPhone 4, 1/268 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, Camera+ app. This is straight off the iPhone with no post processing.

Tesla's Birthday

- Happy Birthday to Nikola Tesla was born 156 years ago on July 10, 1856. This is a plasma lamp invented by Telsa. In U.S. Patent 0,514,170 issued to Tesla on February 6, 1894 he describes a plasma lamp. The materials and technology to build the lamp did not exist during Telsa's life. It wasn't until 1970 that Bill Parker an undergraduate student at MIT created this popular product sold throughout the world today. In addition to being the father of AC electrical current, Telsa invented, described or envisioned much of what defines modern technology and science. In my humble opinion, his biography "Tesla: Man Out of Time" by Margret Cheney should be required reading for anyone who practices science or technology.

Canon 40D, 1/15 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400.